Over the past decade, solar energy has become increasingly popular for homeowners across the northern Piedmont region. The benefits are multifold: power production, energy security, cost savings, local employment opportunities, and emissions reductions.

 

As a resident within Fauquier and Loudoun counties, you can participate in Solarize Piedmont, a seasonal cooperative program with Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), the Piedmont Environmental Council, and participating municipal governments. Your property will be assessed by satellite to determine if it is suitable for a solar array.

 

Most systems are installed on roofs to reduce maintenance and avoid the negative impacts ground-mounted options have on wildlife, prime soils, and viewsheds. You will then be connected with a vetted installer who will create a draft proposal following a site visit and it may take up to four months before you have a functional system in place. Once your system is up and running, you use electricity as it is generated and sell back any surplus electricity to the utility.

 

Through “net energy metering,” you get a one-to-one, kilowatt hour for kilowatt hour credit on your bill for every unit of electricity produced and put back on the electric grid. The electric utility will never pay you for the solar energy, they just credit your account. The credits are good for 12 months, making a sunny summer helpful with saving you money in the winter.